Ever come across an incredible hotel that stops you mid-scroll and makes you think, Wow, wouldn鈥檛 it be something to stay there? We do, too鈥攁ll the time. Welcome to Friday Fantasy, where we highlight amazing hotels, lodges, cabins, tents, campsites, and other places perched in perfect outdoor settings. Read on for the intel you need to book an upcoming adventure here. Or at least dream about it.

The trailhead behind behind my villa is a tiny tunnel into lush green, marked only by a small black sign with the words 鈥淭ucan Trail鈥� printed in sunny yellow lettering. As I follow the path from the resort鈥檚 clearing into the thick shelter of trees, trunks wound in giant, vining monsteras that make a mockery of my houseplants, I repeatedly remind myself that I am in the rainforest, a giddy thought and a now dreamlike reality.

Thanks to era illustrator Lisa Frank and the environmental education of the 1990s, the rainforest has taken up major real estate in my imagination since I was a kid. So when I had the opportunity to visit 听, the only resort in Corcovado National Park on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, visions of macaws and toucans rendered in rainbow flew through my head.

During my time at Corcovado Wilderness Lodge, I see both, along with capuchin monkeys, rotund tapirs, snuffling coati, a boa constrictor, and more. The real-life encounters are better than any of my fantasies鈥攑articularly when viewed through the resort鈥檚 lens of biological preservation.

The Lodge

Corcovado Wilderness Lodge’s 189-acre property is entirely off-grid and only accessible by boat. The rainforest, all 250,000 acres of it, borders the resort on three sides, the fourth being the palm-tree-peppered coastline. Four-wheelers transport guests up the steep, rugged rise from the coastline to the resort鈥檚 rooms, two pools, yoga shalas (though there鈥檚 one by the ocean, too), spa pavilion, and 360-degree, ridiculously beautiful views.

Wherever I wander, the environment is palpable. Monkeys swing through trees by the pool while tapirs nap beneath the Lodge鈥檚 risen walkways; flowering plants and fruit trees provide pops of vibrant color against all that saturated green; and the sounds of the rainforest never cease, the hum of insects and crystalline calls of native birds a soundtrack to every step.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the beauty of this place,鈥� says Operations Director Blake Delatte, citing everything from the rich microbiome of the rainforest soil to the two big cats that occasionally saunter through the property. 鈥淥ur whole world used to be alive, and it still is here.鈥�

Immersion Is a Luxury

In the place of amenities typically required by a 5-star resort (most notably valet parking) the Lodge suggests that the ultimate luxury is the opportunity to vacation within, and help preserve, an exceedingly rare environment. Osa is considered one of the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems , and Corcovado is among the last low-laying tropical rainforests in the world.

Rather than simply celebrating this, Corcovado Wilderness Lodge works to preserve the area through research, education, and guest participation. As an example, the property recently opened an onsite research center in partnership with , a marine conservation NGO. The space allows Innoceana鈥檚 team of engineers, biologists, and divers to study (and better protect) the area鈥檚 marine ecosystems, and guests a chance to head out on expeditions and work alongside them鈥�while receiving PADI dive certifications听in the process.

鈥淲e wanted to figure out a way to fund the science, but also bring a different kind of education and hospitality experience to our guests,鈥� says Delatte. 鈥淚 envision the hotel as a means to create positive change; it鈥檚 a tool that allows us to do really interesting things for our local communities and the environment.鈥�

Some additional partnerships and programs include the , which keeps tabs on the aforementioned big cats; Pristine Playa, a beach clean-up program that transforms trash found on听the beach听into building materials used throughout the Lodge; and Innoceana鈥檚 Blue Warriors, an initiative that teaches local kids English while offering education around heritage, environmentalism, and sustainable tourism.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel

While walks through the rainforest are available to anyone via a network of private trails, a guided tour into helps ensure that you understand the full scope of your surroundings. Our hike comes with ample urgings to stop strolling and to look and listen, those pauses rewarded by monkey sightings, closer looks at plants and insects, and a reminder of the region鈥檚 vibrancy.

The tours aren鈥檛 limited to the ground: up the canopy, researchers study rare orchids and epiphytes typically only accessible when a tree falls. Guests can join in, or visit the tree climbing area to get a new perspective sans science. And for sea lovers, trips to the are an essential. Ca帽o, located just nine miles off the coast of Corovado, is a marine sanctuary surrounded by coral reefs and an abundance of sea life such as rays, sea turtles, and a rainbow of tropical fish.

Led by Laura Vanopdenbosch, one of Innoceana鈥檚 resident marine biologists, our group takes to the waters of the Pacific with hopes of monitoring humpback whales and hearing their surreal song via hydrophone. The giants elude us, but pods of leaping dolphins and a few snorkeling sessions around the reefs showcase the area鈥檚 teeming life. Afterwards, over lunch, we test water samples collected on our jaunt. Guests are also invited to partake in coral data collection, helping the team place sensors while enjoying a dive.

Choice Rooms

I was lucky enough to experience two of the hotel鈥檚 room types during my stay: a suite in Oceanview Village and a villa in Rainforest Village. For privacy, tapir sightings, and one of the most beautiful bathtub views you’re likely to find, the network of ocean view rooms is impossible to beat. Meanwhile, Rainforest Village finds you closer to the pools, gardens, and your neighbors, an outdoor shower guaranteeing that you can still enjoy an al fresco cleansing moment.

Eat and Drink

Corcovado Wilderness Lodge has two open-air restaurants, which is good, because a trip to town for a meal is a big ask (you’d need to schedule a boat ride to leave the resort).

Los Vitrales is centrally located near Rainforest Village, the pools, and the lobby, while Terra Kitchen and its epic vistas can be found closer to Oceanview Village.听Both restaurants feature plant-forward menus that are constantly shifting, the better to showcase the Lodge’s own fruits, vegetables, and fresh catches.

Grab a cocktail or sip on wellness elixirs (the Blue Lotus infusion gave me some lovely vivid dreams) from crafted from the region鈥檚 plants to ease or energize your mind and body, depending on your mood. Founder Ariana Ayales was born and raised in Costa Rica, and uses her knowledge of the area’s plant life for inspiration.

When to Go

Corcovado鈥檚 dry season runs from December to April making this the most popular time to visit the region. Still, dry is a relative term in the rainforest. During my January stay, we had several showers and one riotous thunderstorm. Keep in mind, September and October are considered Corcovado鈥檚 wettest months.

How to Get There

The journey to Corcovado Wilderness Lodge is an adventure all its own. A flight into San Jos茅 is followed by an hours-long drive to Sierpe. From there, the boat ride, which doubles as a wildlife tour, is just over an hour. (Alternatively, a flight into Drake Bay is followed by a 45–minute boat ride.) Scan the mangroves for monkeys and sloths, and enjoy the approach to Corcovado from the waves. A final, smaller boat delivers you from the tour boat to the shores鈥攅xpect to get a little wet.

Don鈥檛 Miss

Chilling by the pools or at the beach is an easy way to unwind, but for some extra pampering, the offers a menu of massages, facials, and more in (surprise!) an outdoor setting. Massages are conceptualized around the Corcovado experience, with options like Fresh Soul, which uses aloe and a quartz massage to soothe sun-soaked skin, and the muscle-releasing Rainforest Delight, an ideal post-hike option. Though in-room services are available, the view from the spa pavilion is among the most epic on the entire property.

Still not relaxed? Yoga props (mats, blocks, bolsters) are available for use at either the oceanfront yoga shala, a deck with a thatched roof at the far end of the property鈥檚 playa, or the forested shala. I鈥檇 opt for the latter鈥攁 dusk practice at the edge of the rainforest, the sounds of animals rustling through the brush and calling through the trees, is an experience I won鈥檛 soon forget.

Details

Price: Starting at $1,500 per person. This includes a three-night stay (which is the minimum), transportation from Sierpe or Drake Bay, all meals, a snorkeling excursion to Ca帽o Island, and a guided hike through Corcovado National Park.

Address: Puntarenas Province, Drake Bay, Costa Rica

To Book:

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Welcome to the modern world: we鈥檙e all stressed here. Habits and practices designed for relaxation or a more active unwind are the most common antidote, with spa days, time outside, and a solid yoga class countering some of the effects of overwhelm. But what if the solution to your habitual stress is actually more stress?

鈥淭he idea of adding stress to our lives as a method of stress management might seem nonsensical, especially since many people already experience too much stress,鈥� says Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, a research scientist and author of . 鈥淗owever, this is because we often experience the wrong kind.鈥�

Paradoxically enough, good stress does exist鈥攜ou might even be experimenting with it already鈥攁nd incorporating it into your routine can make you more in athletic performance and beyond.

Good Stress Versus Bad Stress

Defining good stress becomes easier when you understand what it鈥檚 not. The type of stress that you likely complain about (the bad kind) is called chronic stress, which is 鈥渂ad鈥� because it鈥檚 persistent鈥攁nd it negatively affects nearly every part of your body over time. It raises and damages blood vessels, dysregulates your immune system, disrupts , and increases , says Berquist.

Stress takes a toll on the mind, too, he says,听, impairing memory, and even enlarging听the amygdala, which in turn increases our reactivity to stress.

鈥淲hen stress is consistently high and is not appropriately addressed, it can impact your sleep patterns (ability to fall asleep and stay asleep), your energy levels throughout the day, and your focus on tasks,鈥� adds Haley Michno, a social worker. 鈥淎dditionally, constant stress can also affect how you are showing up in relationships, impacting your ability to be present and connected to others.鈥�

The Link Between Stress and Performance

Desirable stress isn鈥檛 chronic. Instead, it comes in occasional bursts, bolstering resilience and balancing your body.

There are two types of beneficial stress: , which refers to stress that is deemed meaningful psychologically or emotionally (like the pressure experienced when we鈥檙e striving toward a goal we want to achieve), and , which is all about the biological response.

鈥淗ormetic stress refers to brief and intermittent challenges that our bodies are designed to handle,鈥� says Berquist.听The phrase refers to听, or the relationship between a low-level stressor and a beneficial biological response.听In performance training, hormetic stress is , a learned adaptation toward resilience that allows athletes to perform better in the face of adversity.

Hormetic Stress Feels Bad Now but Good Later

Berquist notes that you can tell the difference between good and bad stress by how you feel afterward. Where chronic stress can leave you feeling depleted, anxious, and burnt out, good stress comes with energy, strength, and even creativity.

Hormetic stress has another name: type-two fun. An item on the outdoor world鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� type-two fun refers to something that鈥檚 tough at the moment but feels awesome after the fact.

Cold plunges, sauna sessions, medium-intensity exercise, and intermittent fasting are all popular examples of hormetic stress. These purposeful, challenging moments temporarily overwhelm your mind and body in a good way.

鈥淧hysical stressors can enhance our psychological resilience, and vice versa,鈥� explains Berquist. 鈥淒eliberately introducing challenges that align with our values or contribute to a greater good can help release hormones and neurotransmitters that counteract cortisol and reduce its harmful effects.鈥�

Too Much of Any Stressor Can Backfire

Though hormetic stress is technically good, this kind of purposeful pressure should be practiced mindfully. Berquist recommends incorporating small amounts of good stress followed by recovery鈥攚hether that鈥檚 a rest-day workout or a few days off from the sauna鈥攖o allow your mental and physical strength to build over time.

And know that no matter how much hormetic stress you embrace, bad stress will still find you. If your stress is adversely affecting your performance, resting and reaching out to a mental health professional are always your options.

鈥淚t is OK to take breaks and address your needs to be proactive in addressing stress,鈥� says Michno, who also suggests leaning on your support system during trying times.

Want more of听国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Health stories?听.

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Today, we鈥檙e talking about balls. More specifically, myofascial release balls. Whether tennis, lacrosse, or specialized therapy balls, these unassuming helpers can be used to target hyper-specific areas of your myofascial system to release tense muscles, facilitate internal hydration (which helps your muscles and tissues move and contract), and even relieve .

Your myofascial system is a network of . It鈥檚 also complex, multi-faceted, and likely a bit tight鈥攚hich is why choosing the right myofascial release tool is a must.

Although tension can be alleviated in various ways (think foam rollers, stretching, and massage therapy), some of the most useful tools are also the most humble.

The Benefits of Myofascial Release

Your is a dense and fibrous webbing that connects and encases every aspect of your internal body, including muscles, ligaments, organs, nerves, and more. It鈥檚 inherently tension-based, mobilizing and stabilizing the body everywhere muscle and connective tissue interact.

Your everyday habits (think posture and repetitive movements) cause your fascia to adapt, thicken, and harden, leading to impaired mobility, decreased hydration, and undesirable compensation patterns, explains , a yoga teacher and psychologist with an emphasis on myofascial release. This can lead to pain and discomfort.

Proponents of myofascial release cite a number of upsides to the (at times uncomfortable) routine. 鈥淭he immediate effects include alleviating physical tension, freeing up movement, and feeling relaxed,鈥� says Malaspina. And as far as the long-term effects? Increased , , and muscle soreness, quicker recovery, and even enhanced mobility and .

, yoga teacher and founder of Man Flow Yoga, considers any sort of massage ball an invaluable tool for anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle (weekend warriors, we鈥檙e looking at you), those with persistent pain, or those who feel they鈥檝e reached a plateau with their overall flexibility.

The correct ball can release overly engaged muscles and facilitate blood flow and hydration by allowing you to compress certain within soft tissue. 鈥淎 trigger point is an area that is causing restriction through an entire muscle group,鈥� says Pohlman. 鈥淲hen you find that specific point and get at it effectively with a massage ball, it can be a lot more effective at releasing that muscle tension than if you were just using stretching alone.鈥�

He adds that releasing muscle knots is far easier (and even safer) with the help of a tool, as stretching with a pulled or hyper-tense muscle can lead to injury. It all comes down to the placement of the balls. Malaspina adds that using balls for tissue compressing can stimulate , lending to proper internal alignment and support throughout your body.

How to Use Myofascial Release Balls

Before we get into the dos, Malaspina shares some don鈥檛s. Do not use massage balls if you are taking blood thinners. And if this sort of myofascial release veers from discomfort to actual, sharp pain at any point, stop and reassess.

Following are pro tips for a successful myofascial release session.

1. Practice Mindful Placement

鈥淧lacement should be on muscle tissue,鈥� says Malaspina. 鈥淪tart with simple compression by placing the ball and relaxing and breathing into the pressure.鈥�

Once you locate your sweet spot鈥攁 soft point that elicits sensation but not unbearable pain鈥攜ou can add subtle movement, such as swaying from side to side or rolling up and down to explore the sensation. Limit each trigger exploration to 30 to 60 seconds.

It鈥檚 also worth remembering that the ideal release point may not be directly on the site of tension. Try focusing on adjacent areas instead. 鈥淚f your glutes are particularly tight, for instance, consider releasing the low back, hamstrings, or hip flexors, working around the tension rather than solely targeting it,鈥� says Malaspina.

Avoid placing the ball on:

• Swollen or bruised areas
• Broken skin
• Bones (directly)
• Blood clots or impaired veins
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Areas of carpal tunnel or high nerve sensitivity
• The trachea

2. Tune Into Your Breath

According to Pohlman, you should be able to maintain a straight face and breath normally while using your massage ball. 鈥淚f you notice that you鈥檙e really tensing up, that your face is grimacing, that you鈥檙e really not able to relax, then the ball in question is probably too hard for you,鈥� he says.

鈥淵ou may experience mild discomfort, but it shouldn鈥檛 hurt,鈥� adds Malaspina. As with most things in life, the best gauge is the breath. 鈥淲e want to breathe and relax into the tool versus feeling the urge to retreat from it.鈥�

Never go too deep or try to push past your pain threshold鈥攚hich, if as a fan of myofascial release, may be high. Too much pressure can lead to bruised muscles and the potential for further harm or injury.

3. Get Up, Stand Up

Rather than laying your body on a ball, which applies your entire weight to the trigger point in question, try different positions.

鈥淟eaning against the wall will provide you with greater control over the amount of body weight you apply to the tool, unlike lying on the floor where your body is more influenced by gravity,鈥� says Malaspina. You can isolate and compress your upper traps, for example, by holding a ball against a wall at shoulder height and moving into it from a standing position.

Pohlman also recommends a good standing foot release. Stand and roll one foot very slowly over a lacrosse ball. 鈥淭his can unlock some truly amazing tension relief,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檒l also help release muscle tension in the entire backside of your body.鈥�

4. Get Curious

Mastering the act of myofascial release requires some (safe) experimentation. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l find that certain areas of the body may register minimal sensation with a firmer ball, while in other areas, you鈥檒l feel significant sensation or pain with a softer one,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 encourage folks to approach the practice as an exploration.鈥�

Depending on your needs, it may be a good idea to curate a collection of balls to address individual issues.

5. Make It a Habit

Building targeted myofascial release into your regular routine is the best way to reap the rewards. 鈥淎dding this practice three to four days a week for ten minutes at a time, rotating through different parts of the body, can reduce discomfort from postural habits (like sitting at a desk all day) and can be a great addition to a yoga practice,鈥� says Malaspina.

鈥淏e sure to drink a lot of water after (like you would after a massage) to facilitate hydration, he adds鈥�

How to Choose the Best Myofascial Release Ball for You鈥攁nd 4 Types to Try

Choosing the best ball for you calls for the same self-knowledge and curiosity as using it. Our experts agree that the softness or firmness of a ball matters less than the effect it has on your unique body.

Malaspina notes that large balls disperse pressure, while small balls address more precise points, such as on the hands and feet, for example. Softer balls create less sensation than firmer options.

1. Melt Foot and Hand Therapy Balls

• Ample give
• The Melt Method features that are meant to squish and give, making them a great option for beginners in myofascial release.

2. Massage Balls

• Firm with some give
• are designed specifically for myofascial release. In this case, latex rubber and a compressible core allow you to explore sensation gently.

3. Tennis Balls

• Firm with some give
• feature a soft exterior and a hollow rubber shell, allowing for give and even bounce as you experiment with placement.

4. Lacrosse Balls

• Extra firm
• The firmest and thus the most intense option of the bunch, should be used sparingly and cautiously.

Check in throughout and observe how your body (and breath) responds to the pressure before deciding to use a softer, firmer, smaller, or larger ball. It鈥檚 all about determining your personal points of tension and the best way to relieve them鈥攁ll while breathing through it.

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Your favorite outdoor spot has a scent. Take a moment and think about it: the plants and flowers, the smell of the rain-soaked or sun-baked听earth, the brine of waves, even wafting notes of the food, spices, and foliage of nearby towns.

I grew up in Northern California鈥擬arin County, which is located in the San Franciso Bay Area, to be exact. The scents of wet earth, musty redwood, bay laurel, eucalyptus, ceanothus, and salty ocean air are alive in my imagination, which means that home is never too far away.

After all, recalling the perfume of a place is one of the most immediate ways to transport yourself there鈥攚hich is why fragrances inspired by outdoor spaces are worthy of a whiff.

The Case for a Place-Based Scent

According to Jasmina Aganovic, chemical and biological engineer and founder of , a fragrance brand driven by innovation, scents rooted in the physical world carry a sense of presence, grounding the wearer in something tangible.

鈥淭hey evoke texture, temperature, and movement, creating immersive experiences rather than just fleeting impressions,鈥� she says. “This approach makes fragrance not just a feeling but a place and mindset you step into.鈥�

It also makes that place portable.

When I first smelled Bo by 鈥攎y current signature scent, inspired by Bolinas, a tiny beach town in Marin鈥擨 immediately felt at home. This is by design. Bo and its sister scent Reyes (the latter is available ) were crafted to transport wearers to the bohemian enclave of Bolinas or the neighboring wilds of Point Reyes National Seashore with just a single sniff.

While creating Bo, Liis founders Alissa Sullivan and Leslie Hendin actively compared the scent to its corresponding terrain to ensure it truly captured the landscape鈥攁nd its spirit.

鈥淏o represents the dense coastal forest,鈥� says Sullivan, citing the fragrance鈥檚 notes of redwood pine, guaiac wood, elemi, and cedar. She adds that the small town鈥檚 history as a haven for creatives was also considered, communicated through soft facets of vanilla, incense, and tobacco. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very cozy, akin to being tucked into an enchanted place where you can live freely and truly be yourself.鈥�

Though one could argue that the people of a place are wholly separate from the landscape, 鈥檚 founder, Philippe Solas, believes that a destination鈥檚 scent profile is built of both. Some of the brand鈥檚 collections鈥攃urrent perfume trios are inspired by Oman, Montauk, and Bali鈥攆eature notes aligned with specific plant life and weather patterns, while others celebrate place via the human experience within it.

鈥淪tory is often at the heart of our connection with a specific place,鈥� says Solas. 鈥淭his allows us to create freely, whether based on meaningful, raw material or a memory.鈥�

How Do You Create a Fragrance Inspired by a Place?

Rather than basing notes on concepts and ideas, creating a destination fragrance doubles as an invitation to get outside.

鈥淵ou can visit a place,鈥� says David Seth Moltz, co-founder of , a fragrance company rooted in the spirit of New York City. 鈥淚f you build realistic accords of what you find, you can capture it.鈥�

For Moltz, along with co-founder and wife Kavi and their family, a quick pitstop on a trip down California鈥檚 iconic Highway 1 turned into a scent discovery. 鈥淲e left the car on the side of the road and descended into a grove,鈥� says Moltz. 鈥淚t was foggy and had just rained. The smell was incredible鈥攁n energizing, green petrichor.鈥� From this experience, the brand鈥檚 candle and Big Sur Eucalyptus Eau de Parfum were born.

As Liis鈥� Sullivan and Hendin both grew up in Marin, their coastal-inspired scents inspire untamed beauty along with nostalgia and comfort. Field trips into their backyard鈥檚 ancient temperate rainforests, mountains, cliffs, meadows, and beaches allowed them to identify native plants like oak, cedar, redwood, and herbs to serve as a grounding foundation for both Bo and Reyes. 鈥淣otes such as fog are more conceptual,鈥� says Sullivan.

Meanwhile, Future Society鈥檚 method of honoring place is wholly unique鈥攁nd involves a touch of time travel. Each perfume features DNA from extinct flora, with research around the plant鈥檚 origins, relatives, and extinction lending to its lore and allowing the brand to world-build around it.

鈥淏y merging scent, science, and storytelling, we challenge what fragrance can be and invite people to see themselves as part of something bigger,鈥� explains Aganovic. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about expanding what鈥檚 possible, using scent to tell forgotten stories and inspire a limitless view of the future.鈥�

Your Perfume Is Alive

A fragrance that echoes the outdoors is a reminder that you are part of every landscape you move through. And just as you inform these environments with your actions, the natural world also provides lasting notes.

鈥淓ach scent represents a lesson from nature that we can carry with us,鈥� says Aganovic. 鈥淕rowth, resilience, and a commitment to ourselves.鈥� She adds that perfumes themselves are meant to be as alive as the parallel places, revealing new depths over time.

When it comes to his destination collections, Solas considers an unearthed memory from the place in question to be the ultimate compliment. 鈥淎 man once told us that [the perfume] reminded him of the scents of the souk in Muscat, Oman,鈥� he says. 鈥淪imilarly, a young woman spoke with emotion about (from our South Africa collection), saying it brought back memories of spring in Johannesburg.鈥�

There are many ways to demonstrate reverence for a beloved piece of land, but carrying its scents and letting them mingle with your own may be among the most personal.

7 Travel Fragrances Inspired by Place

Let these perfumes take you away with their outdoorsy compositions.

1. Liis Bo

Inspired by Bolinas, California

A unique beach community, bottled. This cozy scent features notes of redwood pine, incense, cedar, tobacco leaves, and vanilla.

2. Une Nuit Nomade Fleur des Fleurs

Inspired by Bali, Indonesia

Bali’s tropical flowers, specifically Ylang-Ylang, combine with amber, grapefruit, saffron, and jasmine to capture the lush character of the island.

3. Future Society Grassland Opera

Inspired by Rock Island in the Falls of the Ohio, Kentucky

Take a trip to the past via the shallows of the Ohio River. The key notes in this fragrance come from ginger, patchouli, and DNA of the extinct Orbexilum stipulatum, which was wiped out in the 1880s.

4. Byredo Mojave Ghost

Inspired by the Mojave Desert, California

The clean complexity of the desert serves as the inspiration for Mojave Ghost. Woody notes like cedar and sandalwood are punctuated by magnolia and violet.

5. Une Nuit Nomade Nothing But Sea and Sky

Inspired by Montauk, New York

With a name pulled from a Whitman poem and a blend of milky notes and white musks, this scent aims to embody Montauk Point in winter.

6. Future Society Solar Canopy

Inspired by Molokai, Hawaii

Another ode to an extinct plant, Solar Canopy centers Molokai’s red-flowered Hibiscadelphus wilderianus, last spotted in 1912. Also, sniff for lychee, pistachio, bergamot, and Turkish rose.

7. D.S. & Durga Big Sur Eucalyptus

Inspired by Big Sur, California

Big Sur Eucalyptus uses notes of eucalyptus, cypress, rosemary, and magnolia to transport wearers (and smellers) to a grove on the California coast.

Want more of听国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Health stories?听.

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There鈥檚 been a lot of buzz about physical strength training in recent years, but what about your mental strength?

Building strength is a feat that encompasses both body and mind. Learning to navigate cognitive challenges means you increase your capacity to do all manner of difficult things, from navigating anxiety to staying in . It鈥檚 all connected.

鈥淯nderstanding self-discipline, perseverance, and strategies for living according to your values are all hallmarks of mental strength,鈥� says , psychotherapist and author of . 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being able to manage your behavior.鈥�

The Benefits of Mental Strength

This fortitude touches all aspects of your inner landscape, from logic to motivation to the way you feel your feelings.

鈥淢ental strength involves knowing how to control your feelings,鈥� explains Morin. That means understanding when to embrace them, when to shift them, and what you can learn from them.鈥澨齌his training is about reframing the way you process and respond to thoughts and feelings, creating a reaction pattern that鈥檚 more useful for you, adds Morin.

Another benefit of increased mental strength is more focus. 鈥淭here is an emotional piece of mental strength that requires wisdom and emotional intelligence, then there is the focus piece,鈥� says yoga teacher . She adds that each arena definitely requires some practice.

鈥淢ore focus is not only good for getting things done, but it allows you to have control over the spotlight of your attention,鈥� says Arrington. 鈥淚n this digital world where we are constantly distracted, our attention can be hijacked every few seconds. Mental strength means not letting these outside forces determine your behaviors for the day.鈥�

Morin adds that gaining stamina within your inner world can help you perform your best, improve your relationships, bolster your psychological health, and find confidence in your ability to manage life鈥檚 ups and down.

7 Mental Strength Exercises to Build Your Stamina

From mindfulness practices to getting uncomfortable on purpose, these exercises can make your mind a stronger space.

1. Name Your Feelings

Kicking off your mental strength training can be as simple as defining your feelings. 鈥淧ractice naming your emotions a few times a day and you鈥檒l find that your emotional vocabulary increases and you鈥檒l get better at understanding how you feel,鈥� says Morin. 鈥淲hen you can say, 鈥業 feel anxious鈥� or 鈥業 feel sad right now,鈥� you shift the way your brain is processing the emotion. You raise your logic, reduce the emotion, and help your brain make sense of what is going on.鈥�

2. Use the 10-Minute Rule

Whether your goals are multi-level or simple, starting small with whatever challenge you assign yourself sets you (and your mind) up for success. 鈥淭ell yourself that you only need to do the task for 10 minutes,鈥� says Morin. 鈥淎t the end of the 10-minute mark, give yourself permission to quit. You鈥檒l likely find that you want to keep going.鈥�

3. Practice Gratitude

The upsides of are 鈥攁nd for good reason.

鈥淕ratitude empowers you to focus on the positive and reduces the energy you spend dwelling on the negative,鈥� says Morin. Maintaining a regular gratitude practice鈥攚hether journaling or the moment or noticing of joy throughout your day鈥攃an help train your brain to look for the good.

4. Try Mantra Meditation

Learning to still your mind and quiet your incessant internal chatter is a lifelong pursuit, one aided greatly by meditating with a mantra. Start by adopting a simple mantra such as , , or to give your mind something to play with whilst you let your thoughts come and go with ease.

鈥淲hen we learn to observe and learn from our thoughts rather than getting pulled in all directions by them, we can feel a weight lifted,鈥� says Arrington.

5. Breathe With a Metronome

For an accessible breathing exercise that focuses the mind, Arrington recommends focusing on the timing of your inhalations and exhalations.

Start by sitting near a ticking clock or downloading a metronome app. 鈥淪et your timer for 10 minutes and close your eyes,鈥� says Arrington. 鈥淐ount your inhale and whatever number that is, slow down your exhale to double that number. If you inhale for five seconds, you will exhale for 10 seconds.鈥� This practice slows your heart rate (and your nervous system) while compelling you to pay attention to a very specific (and calming) task.

6. Lean Into Discomfort

Seemingly uncomfortable actions鈥攊ncluding balancing in or taking a 鈥攃an double as tools to increase your sense of security.

鈥淒o something that sends signals to your brain that say, 鈥楳ake it stop! I鈥檓 uncomfortable!鈥� while simultaneously doubling the length of your exhale, says Arrington. The former activates your fear response while the latter sends signals to your brain that say, 鈥淚鈥檓 safe. Everything is fine.鈥� This creates a new neural connection that makes it okay for you to be uncomfortable,鈥� she explains.

7. Get Vulnerable

You (hopefully) know by now that your vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. Morin notes that asking for help and allowing yourself to quit when appropriate are practices that denote courage and promote toughness.

鈥淚t鈥檚 mentally tough to have the strength to actually feel that pain of someone hurting you, tend to it, learn from it, and take action,鈥� agrees Arrington. 鈥淭his may mean putting up some boundaries or ending a relationship.鈥� It may also mean opening yourself to having difficult but essential conversations and experiencing the possibility of pain. Letting yourself remain soft is among the strongest things you can do.

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